(Mostly) Political One-Liners: BonChon, Accessible Campaigns, and Future of Tackle Football

by Nathan L. GonzalesApril 24, 2018 · 5:18 PM EDT

"Accessible” Attacks: Three Democratic candidates recently compared and contrasted their accessibility to the incumbents they are challenging, but neither Ken Harbaugh (OH-07) nor Dean Phillips (MN-03) nor Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) appear to have a working phone number on their campaign websites.

Bonchon Bust: The previously infallible Korean fried chicken establishment made a critical mistake by removing popcorn chicken from the menu and thinking kids wouldn’t notice that they now offer popcorn shrimp instead.

Colorado’s 5th District: GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn is still working to get his name on the ballot after a challenge to his signatures, and he already faced a competitive race from state Sen. Owen Hill and El Paso County commissioner and 2016 Senate nominee Darryl Glenn.

Future of Football: Notre Dame and Alabama announced a pair of football games in 2028 and 2029, but what are the chances we’re still playing competitive tackle football in a decade?

Illinois Governor: This has to be the highest-profile and most expensive race with women managing both campaigns, including Betsy Ankney for Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner and Anne Caprara for Democrat J.B. Pritzker.

Missouri Senate: State Attorney General Josh Hawley’s supporters tried to spin his $1.5 million raised in the first quarter as a normal and positive step to victory even though the anointed GOP candidate wasn’t that far ahead of Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a first-time candidate for Congress running in New Jersey’s 11th District who took in $1.1 million in the first three months of the year.

No Thanks, Blazers: The Portland Trail Blazers rattled off a 13-game winning streak during the regular season and inspired me to care about my childhood favorite team again, only to lay an egg in the playoffs and get swept by a team named the Pelicans.

Pennsylvania Senate: Even though President Donald Trump won the Keystone State in 2016, there isn’t a lot of evidence Republicans have a shot at knocking off Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, and we’re changing our rating from Leans Democratic to Likely Democratic.

Rapid-Response Debate Emails: I hate them, and whoever started the tradition and made people believe they were necessary and effective should be banished from politics. (Thank you to the Diane Black for governor campaign for the reminder.)

Seahawks Schedule (a): It’s rough to start the season with two games on the road, but at least they only have one road game (Carolina) east of Detroit.

Tennessee Senate: In the recent April 20 issue of Inside Elections, we changed our rating of the race from Likely Republican to Lean Republican, and it remains the Democrats’ third-best takeover opportunity behind Nevada and Arizona.

Texas Senate: The Lone Star State isn’t on the verge of becoming a blue state, but Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s fundraising and the national mood can’t be ignored, so we’re changing our race rating from Solid Republican to Likely Republican.